NEWS SPECIAL REPORT
AGENTS’ VIEWS OF THE TRIP
“
“I’d sailed with Virgin Voyages four times before. The product is so authentic and
Clockwise from top left: The group ready to jet off at Heathrow; Scarlet Lady; agents enjoy Bimini in the Bahamas
gives passengers the freedom to be themselves. I love the sustainable focus; it’s nice to know if you do a shore excursion you are giving back to a local community.” Kieran Eccles-Miller, Magical Traveller
“This was my first time flying with Virgin Atlantic, first time in the US and first
cruise. I was blown away. I flew in Economy and it was really comfortable and spacious. I thought cruises were for a much older demographic, but I’ve completely changed my mind after going on Virgin Voyages.” Jessica Addington, DialAFlight
Virgin Voyages revamps agent reward scheme
Virgin Voyages has redesigned its agent reward programme to include more experiential prizes in a bid to deepen the line’s relationship with the trade. The programme, called First Mates Rewards, was
launched a year ago and featured predominantly cash incentives for bookings. However, after running a survey asking agents what
they would most like to have as a reward, the cruise line has redesigned the programme and split its reward types into three categories: Instantly Red, VIP Exclusive and Epic. Instantly Red will provide agents who have achieved
something new, such as logging their first booking or completing a training session, with an instant reward such as a lifestyle voucher or lunch out. VIP Exclusive is a booking-led incentive that
will reward top-performing agents with experiential trips, such as a place on an Australia sailing, while the Epic rewards category aims to provide agents with “money-can’t-buy experiences”. Shane Lewis-Riley, vice-president of sales, said the
travelweekly.co.uk
line had invested 50% more into the new agent reward programme, adding that it differentiates itself from schemes run by other lines as it has a “Virgin twist”. “We asked agents what the most important element
of a business partner is and to rank us against it and found agents quite liked being paid per booking, but that they really wanted more experiential rewards,” he said. “We had conversations with a selection of our
First Mates and ran through the idea of investing more money in different experiences, and the feedback was very positive. “This new system will give agents more touchpoints
with our sales team and means we will be able to build deeper relationships with the trade. “We were running traditional cash booking
incentives, because that’s what other lines in the sector were doing, but now we have put our own Virgin twist on it, which sets us apart. “We can’t wait to provide agents with incredible, money-can’t-buy experiences.”
“The flight was excellent. I was in Economy Delight, which is pretty much premium
economy. The crew were amazing. Sailing with Virgin Voyages will help my sales as I’ve learnt so much. The price point is amazing; I knew food was included, but now I can explain how great it is.” Tina Conlan, Paramount Cruises
“Tui only started selling Virgin Voyages in January, so I didn’t know loads.
The ship had a really funky vibe and the food was phenomenal. For passengers who want to party, that’s easily available, but for those who want a more chilled evening, the restaurants are amazing.” Rachael McCormick, Tui
27 APRIL 2023
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PICTURE: Shutterstock/lunamarina
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